The CIA has drastically escalated its Pakistan bombing campaign in efforts to root out Taliban forces who use the area as a base from
which to strike American troops in Afghanistan, reports the New York Times.
An unprecedented 20 attacks have been carried out this September—double
the number in a typical month. With a December review of Afghanistan
strategy looming, the Obama administration is working desperately to
reduce casualties and compensate for Pakistan's lackadaisical approach
to Taliban forces sheltering in its western mountains. The Wall Street Journal reports that the drone strikes were ordered in part to thwart possible terrorist attacks on European targets including
the U.K., France, and Germany. The gravity of the threats is still
under discussion, but one U.S. military official called them "pretty
notable."